Kingston Black

Fruit of the Month -
November 2017

A bitter-sweet cider apple.

Kingston Black is a vintage cider variety which was probably raised the mid to late 19th century in the village of Kingston, near Taunton. It is also known as Taunton Black.

Its fruits are small with a very attractive maroon flush. It produces full-bodied, bitter-sweet cider of distinctive taste.

It was very popular in the early 1900s, particularly in the West Country but gradually became less influential due to its susceptibility to canker, scab and poor cropping. Kingston Black is harvested in early November.